Clarification from the agency

External Applicants Only

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The Office of the Chief Information Officer serves as NGA's central technology authority, providing enterprise-wide leadership and integration across all information systems that power the agency's geospatial intelligence capabilities. OCIO establishes the technological foundation on which NGA accomplishes its mission by integrating cutting-edge technologies that enable NGA to maintain its position as the world leader in geospatial intelligence and GEOINT AI. Through its unified C-Suite - the Chief Enterprise Architect, Chief Engineer, Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Data Officer, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, and Chief Technology Officer - OCIO provides strategic direction, governance, and integration that ensures the agency is building the right things, the right way, together. OCIO drives IT policy and direction for NGA, architecting tomorrow's intelligence advantage today.

The Office of Artificial Intelligence (TI) serves as NGA's center of excellence for artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, driving the Agency's AI strategy, governance, and implementation across all mission areas. TI assists the Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer (CAIO) in their duties to coordinate artificial intelligence across NGA, developing enterprise AI capabilities, and ensuring responsible and ethical AI development and deployment throughout the Agency. The office leads AI policy development, standards creation, and governance frameworks that enable NGA to harness AI's transformative potential while managing associated risks.

Conditions of employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• Security Investigation

SPECIAL INFO:
As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

- U.S. Citizenship

- Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

- Polygraph & Drug Test

- Direct Deposit

- Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.

NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.

Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience in artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer science, data science, software engineering, or related technical fields;
Demonstrated experience evaluating, comparing, and assessing AI systems, platforms, models, and services for mission suitability, technical maturity, scalability, interoperability, security, and operational value;
Demonstrated experience leading the implementation, integration, or scaling of AI and automation capabilities in complex enterprise, defense, intelligence, or national security environments;
Excellent collaboration, oral and written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, technically credible written products and recommendations for senior leaders, technical teams, and external partners;
Deep understanding of modern AI technologies, methodologies, and implementation patterns, including large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, AI agents, multimodal models, model evaluation, benchmarking, and AI security.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Design, Operations Research, Finance, Information Technology, or a related field. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, plus experience that requires the application of tools and algorithms to identify trends and patterns in data, or in a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

At least 10 years of military service or experience working with or in direct support of military units, particularly in intelligence, cyber, operational planning, geospatial, or related mission areas;
Experience with the IC Foundational AI Stack and related enterprise AI services;
Experience supporting AI-related acquisition, contractor oversight, or technical program execution, including service as a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR);
Experience reading and assessing technical architecture documents, model documentation, implementation plans, and system dependencies in support of enterprise adoption decisions;
Demonstrated experience designing, building, or scaling AI and automation capabilities to improve mission effectiveness, efficiency, or operational outcomes.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application.

APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS:

1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,

2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,

3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.

Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education or degree information referenced in the announcement that is relevant. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted. You must use the NGA resume builder and limit your resume to 2 pages.

In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or re-determined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300). Reemployed annuitants must meet additional selection criteria as outlined in the DODI 1400.25, v300.

All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.